Former republican prisoners are asking the Taoiseach to support their demands for an investigation into the British Army's alleged use of a chemical weapon against them in Long Kesh.


The group, Ceartais, which will hold its first public meeting in Belfast on Tuesday, believes the death of dozens of prisoners from cancer is linked with the use of CR gas in October 1974.


Ex-Provisional IRA prisoner Jim McCann said an abnormally high number of men in the vicinity of where the gas was allegedly dropped were currently suffering, or had died, from the disease.


"I've walked behind too many coffins for this to be an accident," he said. "Many of those who have become ill or died had healthy lifestyles and didn't smoke. CR gas is 10 times stronger than CS gas. The British used a chemical weapon against defenceless prisoners in the North. They are guilty of a major violation of human rights."


He said the gas could have affected scores more republican and
loyalist prisoners. In October 1974, the cages of Long Kesh were burned down by republican prisoners in protest at conditions inside the camp.


In the ensuing riots, prisoners fought running battles with hundreds of British soldiers, including members of the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines. Although they employed CS gas and rubber bullets, the soldiers were unable to overcome the prisoners.


The prisoners say that military helicopters then appeared overhead and canisters were dropped which exploded into pellets releasing the gas.